Episode

At the start of the show, Statler and Waldorf complain that the opening numbers are too weird -- "what do you have tonight, a Chinese gorilla dancing ballet?" Embarrassed, Kermit cancels the opening number, infuriating the Chinese gorilla who was planning to dance ballet.

Kermit asks the old men what they would do for an opening number, so they throw together a burlesque number: "Take Ten Terrific Girls". The number stars ten terrific girls, but, as the lyrics suggest, only nine costumes.

Statler and Waldorf share a few old jokes during the number:

Statler: "What do you get when you pour boiling water down a rabbit hole?

Waldorf: "I don't know. What do you get when you pour boiling water down a rabbit hole?"

Between numbers, Miss Piggy practices her soprano on Kermit when she finds out Beverly will be doing an opera number at the end of the show. He tells her that Beverly is holding auditions later, and Piggy should love the opera -- it's called "Pigoletto."

The Newsman rushes on for a Muppet News Flash to announce that Beverly will be singing opera until the cows come home. Just then, he gets run over by a herd of cows.

Gonzo meets with Beverly in her dressing room to demonstrate his new art form -- spoon-hanging. When Sam the Eagle arrives to worship at Beverly's feet, he's scandalized to find her practicing spoon-hanging.

Miss Piggy visits Beverly in her dressing room to audition for "Pigoletto."

Soon, the room is filled with auditioning pigs, including Strangepork playing the kazoo and Link Hogthrob trying out for the basketball team. Beverly tells them that they'll all have a part in the closing number.

That doesn't sit well with the other animals, who complain to Kermit that they can sing opera too -- suggesting "Goat-erdammerung" (Götterdämmerung), "La Traviotter" (La Traviata) and "Madame Buttermilk" (Madama Butterfly). Robin the Frog claims that he's perfect for "Low 'n Green" (Lohengrin).

Kermit tells Sam he thinks things went well in his act, especially with the protozoa.

Scooter arrives to tell Kermit that everything is set for the closing number, except for with the spear carriers; they're demanding money. Kermit says no until he is pursuaded (by the spears) to change his mind.

For the closing number, Beverly performs "Pigoletto," with a chorus of upstaging pigs, including Link Hogthrob, Julius Strangepork, and Miss Piggy as Cleopatra. Although the name is a spoof of Rigoletto, the music being performed is also taken from La Traviata, Carmen, Aida, and Die Walkure. Beverly gets involved in a "who can sing higher" contest with Piggy, which ends when Piggy drops to a dramatic low note.

At the closing, Beverly Sills tells Kermit that she enjoyed doing The Muppet Show almost as much as performing opera. Gonzo arrives to ask her if that means she'll be giving up great art such as spoon hanging for lesser mediums.